The Mingus Orchestra celebrates the music of American jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus, and was assembled in 1999 by his widow Sue Mingus. It serves as a companion to the Mingus Big Band, but with more of a focus on composition and less emphasis on soloing. The Orchestra features more exotic instrumentation than the Big Band, including bassoon, bass clarinet, French horn, and guitar. The other six instruments are chaired by musicians that also play in the Big Band Read more on Last.fm